USU women's basketball announced the non-conference portion of the 2014-15 schedule. (photo from Athletics website)

Utah State [University] women’s basketball head coach Jerry Finkbeiner announced the Aggies’ non-conference portion of the 2014-15 schedule Wednesday [July 16, 2014] with 13 non-conference games, including one home exhibition. Utah State will take on at least nine teams that advanced to postseason play last season, including five that reached the NCAA Tournament.

Utah State will make its first appearance of the 2014-15 season with an exhibition against Western New Mexico Nov. 3. Fans will then have a chance to see the Aggies in action in the annual Blue-White Scrimmage at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Nov. 11.

“We have been challenged in the Mountain West to bring up our RPI and one of the main ways is your pre-conference schedule,” Finkbeiner said. “We have these schools sprinkled throughout the schedule with the Pac-12 schools, BYU, Baylor, along with a very good Big Sky school in Northern Colorado and a Big West school in Pacific. This prepares us for the tough Mountain West.”

For the third time in the last four seasons, the Aggies will begin the year on the road, opening the regular season at Oregon Nov. 14. The Ducks advanced to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). This is only the second meeting between the two teams with Oregon taking the first meeting in 1986. USU concludes the road trip at Oregon State Nov. 16. The Beavers hold a 3-1 series lead over USU with the last meeting taking place in 1985. OSU will be the first of the five Aggie opponents that competed in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

Utah State will play its first regular-season game at the Spectrum against in-state rival Utah Valley Nov. 20. The Aggies will then hit the road for the BTI Classic hosted by Baylor, Nov. 28-30 in Waco, Texas. The four-team tournament will include the host Bears, Stetson and Marist. Both Baylor and Marist reached the NCAA Tournament, while Stetson advanced to the WNIT. The Aggies have not ever faced any of the teams at the BTI Classic.

The Aggies open the month of December traveling to in-state rival Utah Dec. 3. USU returns home to face NAIA’s Westminster Dec. 6, one of four teams from the state of Utah. The Utes lead the season series against the Aggies 31-3, while it will be the first-ever meeting with the Griffons. Utah State will then conclude the two-game homestand against Northern Colorado Dec. 14. USU leads the season series, 6-3.

“We want to keep the triangular going with both BYU and Utah,” Finkbeiner said. “It is nice to play two of our three in-state games at home this season. There is not a lot of breathing room in the non-conference portion of the schedule. It is going to help galvanize us for the conference schedule. We are really looking forward to heading into the second season in the Mountain West.”

The Aggies then travel to the Golden state to take on Pacific Dec. 16. The Tigers hold a slight 4-3 advantage over USU. On Dec. 19, USU will take on Sacramento State on the road in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Utah State will conclude the non-conference portion of the schedule at home against in-state foe BYU Dec. 22 before breaking for the holidays. The Cougars hold a commanding 32-3 advantage in the series.

The Aggies then prepare for an 18-game home-and-home Mountain West schedule, as USU prepares for its second season in the MW. The 2015 Reese’s Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championship will once against take place at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Fans can follow USU women’s basketball on Twitter as well as on Facebook. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twittter or on Facebook. Utah State women’s basketball is also on instagram at @usuwbasketball.

Aggie women’s basketball tickets will be available by contacting the USU Athletics Ticket Office at (435) 797-0305 or at 1-888-U-STATE-1 (1-888-878-2831) for more information or visit the Utah State athletics web site at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

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